Pod connects the second part of the wire to the series of batteries, there’s a loud pop sound, and the train’s lights come on, followed by the electric engine rattling to life in an ascending wheeze.

There’s a whooshing sound and the train’s doors crash open. Pander drags Wren on board and leaves her sprawled in the aisle before sitting down on one of the old seats, sending a plume of dust into the air. Akimi sits down opposite her.

Again, Kina and I are left dazed by the bizarre events that seem to be unfolding at breakneck pace. We stare, dumbfounded, at the ancient piece of machinery until Igby and Pod lean out of the driver’s cab and Pod explains that the batteries should give us nine minutes of drive time.

“In other words,” Igby adds, “get on the train!”

We hop on and the doors shut. We take off, slow at first but gathering speed. The sound is immense, a shrieking whistle accompanied by the clatter of the archaic vehicle, which I’m certain is about to disintegrate all around us.

A feeling of excitement rushes through me. This is really happening, I really am free from the Block, and I’m here, alive with my friends.

I sit and smile, and feel enormous relief wash over me until there are tears in my eyes.

Don’t, a scared voice inside me begs. Not yet. Do not let hope kill you.

But this is different; you can’t fake reality, not to this level, I’m certain of it … but still, that voice.

The train hits a fast corner and rocks violently. Wren—still lying on the floor where Pander left her—begins to shake. She sits up, looks at each of us individually, and it’s as though she’s seeing us for the first time all over again. She backs away, shuffling on her hands and feet until she is pressed against the far side of the carriage. She pushes her one remaining hand against an ear to try and block out the noise.

“Get away from me!” she screams, her matted blonde hair falling from beneath her hat and into her face. “Get away from me, get away, get away!”

“Wren,” I say, moving quickly through the rocking carriage and kneeling beside her, “it’s me, it’s Luka.”

“Don’t you come near me! Don’t you come near me! I won’t go with you! I won’t, I won’t!”

“Wren, no one’s trying to hurt you, no one’s trying to do anything that isn’t in your best interests. We want to help you; we want to get you far away from the Block, that’s all.”

“I don’t know you,” she hisses, and then spits in my face.